The Nebraska transfer embraces a supporting role for the Oregon Ducks, trading immediate snaps for elite mentorship as he and Heisman-hopeful Dante Moore push each other toward a championship.
Oregon Ducks backup quarterback Dylan Raiola is getting a privilege not many players in college football receive.
Like Dante Moore with Dillon Gabriel, Raiola is getting to learn from a quarterback who will eventually make it to the league.
Raiola, a two-year starter at Nebraska, is gaining a new perspective during his first season with Oregon.
During an interview with Logan Brown of USA Today, Raiola said he's learning what the standard is as a quarterback and as a player for Oregon.
“It means a lot. We don't really talk about pushing each other," Raiola said of Moore. "It's kind of just like, alright, when you come to work every day, just understanding that this is what we need to get done today, and that's the standard.
"And not only just the room, but the whole football team knows that nothing's guaranteed, and you have to work and earn for it. So it's cool to hear that from him.”
Moore had a chance to be taken in the top 5 had he entered the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, he chose to refine his skills as a second-year starter with the Ducks.
Moore chose to return to Oregon knowing Raiola would be in Eugene. While the obvious dynamic is that Moore can teach Raiola this season, the former Nebraska quarterback is pushing Moore to be better.
"He just came in, we talked, and he's been pushing me on the field," Moore said. "If it's certain throws, if it's certain things we're doing in the weight room, certain whatever, he's been doing a great job.
"His weight, his speed, his attention to our playbook's been great. So at the end of the day, we've been pushing ourselves and making sure that we all want to get to that same goal and make sure we all attack it."
The goal for the Ducks should be to win the national championship. As Moore will learn when he gets to the NFL, competition only makes players better.
While Raiola won't compete for the starting job in training camp, Moore will face some pressure to be better than the quarterback that will succeed him next year.
